Table 1 Sample characteristics of mothers and infants (n ^a = 263)

Mother

Sociodemographic characteristics

Age in years (M, SD, range) ^b

29.97 ± 3.77 (18–42)

In a romantic relationship (n, %) ^b

253 (98.4)

Primiparous (n, %) ^b

219 (83.3)

University degree (n, %) ^b

172 (65.4)

Psychophysiological variables

Index objective birth experience (M, SD, range) ^c

2.15 ± 1.17 (0–7)

Subjective birth experience (SIL; M, SD, range) ^c

77.97 ± 21.64 (20–120)

Prenatal depressive symptoms (EPDS; M, SD, range) ^b

5.46 ± 4.05 (0–19)

Infant

Sociodemographic characteristics

Sex ^c

Female (n, %)

Male (n, %)

143 (55.9)

113 (44.1)

Gestational age at birth (weeks; M, SD, range) ^c

40.46 ± 1.05 (38–42)

Birth weight (g; M, SD, range) ^c

3401.67 ± 468.28 (1140–4890)

Infant development (ASQ)^d

Communication (M, SD, range)

Gross motor (M, SD, range)

Fine motor (M, SD, range)

Problem-solving (M, SD, range)

Personal-social (M, SD, range)

44.19 ± 10.86 (12–60)

45.75 ± 17.22 (0–60)

43.31 ± 11.32 (5–60)

46.24 ± 11.01 (0–60)

46.09 ± 11.14 (15–60)

Raw hair glucocorticoid concentrations

Hair cortisol (T1; pg/mg; M, SD, range) ^e

Hair cortisol (T2; pg/mg; M, SD, range) ^f

Hair cortisone (T1; pg/mg; M, SD, range) ^e

Hair cortisone (T2; pg/mg; M, SD, range) ^f

Hair cortisol/cortisone ratio (T1; pg/mg; M, SD, range) ^e

Hair cortisol/cortisone ratio (T2; pg/mg; M, SD, range) ^f

387.84 ± 215.12 (3.26–1042.88)

146.04 ± 108.01 (23.99–618.63)

176.79 ± 101.74 (39.49–574.11)

178.86 ± 143.21 (20.82–1146.27)

2.54 ± 1.49 (0.08–7.16)

1.32 ± 1.32 (0.12–8.88)